Tetrick scores five opening night at Hoosier

Harness racing driver Trace Tetrick was the star of opening night of the 2022 Harrah’s Hoosier Park season as the reinsman scored five winning drives Friday evening, including the feature race.

Tetrick’s biggest score of the evening came in the 12^th race $22,000 Open Pace where he drove Mac’s Big Boy to a neck triumph over Big Gulp after a torrid stretch drive battle.

Racing over a sloppy track, Tetrick tried for the early lead right off the starting gate with Mac’s Big Boy, parked out by Crooked Smile (Joey Putnam) to the first quarter in :27.

Also in the early fray for the lead was Big Gulp (Brandon Bates), who took command away from Mac’s Big Boy after the first quarter and led the field to the half mile in :56.2.

Then by the three-quarters in 1:26.1, Americanprimetime (Mike Oosting) came first-over from fifth place but could not catch up to the leaders.

As they came down the stretch, Tetrick urged Mac’s Big Boy out of the pocket and came after Big Gulph, who held him off almost the entire length of the stretch with Mac’s Big Boy just getting up with a final surge at the wire to win by a short neck in 1:53.3. Kneedeep N Custard (Sam Widger) was third.

MAC’S BIG BOY REPLAY

It was the first start of the year for Mac’s Big Boy, who had two strong qualifying wins heading into opening night at Hoosier Park. The five-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere is trained by Tyler George and owned Carl Hambleton and Donald Fennell of Ohio. He paid $4.20 to win as the wagering favorite.

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink